Attention: upset people -> Polak

[Captain__Blood]

People whinging about Polak in this thread: http://oneeyed-richmond.com/forum//index.php?topic=3980.0

Point 1 - acceptance

Your attention, please. I want to rebuild as much as anyway, trust me on that. I would like us to invest in the best kids season after season, instead of letting pick #8 in a strong draft slip, but lets have a look at the big picture.

Everytime the lads go on the feild, they are trying to win. This season we came 9th. It sucks but it happened. To come 15/14th would have been nice in the sence we would have got a gun player but we wouldn't have seen the improvement we did in our future core players - the like of Raines, Polo, Foley, Tambling and friends. Thus we have to accept to come 9th instead of a shyte postion is worth it in the long run.

Point 2 - getting the best from the situation we have

Is it really worth sticking with our picks and trying to challange a Carlton or Hawthorn in the rebuilding stacks, dispite them having much better draft picks to us (each of the last 2 drafts)? You talk about this as if its the ideal situation, but in reality it is always going to be hard to compete when they have a fairly stronger pick.

What did we do? We looked at the weakness on the list, draft in the bloke who went #4 in the strongest draft ever, came 2nd in the rising star in '03 (beating the like of Ball and Wells) and took a gamble he has alot of potential and will offer alot to our club in the future. A good gamble and one well worth making the risk for - IMO.

We still have a couple good picks which we should make the most of - but for the situation we find our self in Miller and the lads have done just about as well as we could have hoped.

Well done RFC

[Captain__Blood]

And a little birdy told me you guys should have a read of this and get back to me what ya think:

Overview

Graham Polak: 22 years of age. 195/6cms. 94kg.

 - #4 2001 draft (Judd/Hodge/Ball).
 - 2nd in the 2003 Rising Star, beating the like of Ball and Wells (who were playing a lot better than they are this season).

To me, it is clear he is a footballer with much potential. Drafted highly and thought upon very highly (many pre-draft had him rated as the outstanding player of the crop) as a very talented player.

Although you expect him to say it he seems to have a good attitude to coming to the club and wanting to do well. Has signed a long deal , seems to have a great attitude, wants to train hard and continue to hit the gym and becoming more imposing.


The Deal

A couple year back Polak would have commanded much more than Tarrent did today. To get him for and only (more or less) downgrading from #8 to #13, in a draft where outside the top 3/4 there is alot of good, even talent, is good buisness IMO.

From what I can work out, this is what went down. Swapping first rounders with Freo, and out 3rd for their 4th, whilst slightly upgrading our 4th via Collingwood.

In: Polak, #13, #60
Out: #8, #42

Wallace has stated: "I now regard us as having gained two first-round picks, as well as a second-rounder, in our recruiting endeavors." - more so who would have cost alot more a season or so ago. I am viewing the situation much the same.

Plough has had to choose his words very carfully after promising to never again give away a high draft pick.

Pick #13 in a strong draft, and we have managed to keep out 2nd rounder - which i think is very important and an underated top move by Miller his possie. A risk, no doubt but one well worth taking.

Miller has impressed yet again. Knew what he wanted and needed to do and did it well.

Future

All of the sudden our future spine (post Richo and co.), along with that dreaded black spot on our list – KPP, mid 20’s is looking a lot better.

In fact, a little something like:

Code: [Select]

FB: Thursfeild
HB: Polak
HF: Hughes
FF: Schultz

Ruck: Pattison
Bar Thusty the spine that looks like taking us into the next decade were all highly rated: Hughes (#24 - 2005), Pattison (#20 - 2004) Schultz (#12 - 2003) & Polak (#3 - 2002).

With Wallaces 'types'; Deledio, Meyer, JON, Raines, Polo, Tambling, etc. tall, skilled, running fleet (that he has invisioned and been modling since day dot) working the other positions – and life isn’t looking too bad.

The future, is all of a sudden alot more rosie, for some of the slightly more pessimistic amounst us, like my self.


Polak the footballer.

Does Polak have the potential to be our young, gun KPP? Our Rivers, Glass, Rutten type?

All Australia CHB material?

At 196ish he is a great hight. Polak has hit the gym hard in recent times knowing he needs to get strong and is now a good 94kg and looking to get bigger with a Paddy Bowden or Raines being able to do the job on the faster forwards. 

For a big feller he reads the game very well (abit like Whitnall), has a vice like grab, and about as brave as they come.

Of course, on the other hand he might just be an out and out dud, and if so we have not had to wage too much to get the lad at the club. However, I think all the facts point to he having potential. Getting to that potential is another kettle of fish - yet Wallace has shown he could draft in the like of Paddy Bowden, Simmonds and Raines, Tuck, Pettifer and co.

Even as a forward (pinch hitting or otherwise) there is worst options. Richo (CHF), Schultz (FF) with Polak as the 3rd man might stretch a defensive.


Post-Trade week, I feel the club is in a better postion both in the long and short term than we were 7 days ago.

Forza Graham Polak.

Welcome to Tigerland.

[Mopsy]

Congratulations Captain Blood on a very well written and thoughtful article.

I'm with you as I wrote on another thread 'enjoy the ride'

[tigerbalm]

To back up Capt blood i compared i got the comparison of Polak with Roberts-Thompson and the stats stand up ok even though 2006 would not be Polaks best year and the hyphen would get better support from the swan defence midfield than polak did

http://www.pro-stats.com.au/psw/web/compare_players?tid1=106&pid1=2002050&tid2=114&pid2=2002129

Also his career stats show if he consistently performs to his 2003 then we will have a better defence and be more flexible in the use of B1 and hall.


http://www.pro-stats.com.au/psw/web/player_profile?pid=2002050

 Even this yr he was 12 in av contested marks and some of the other stats give hope for a big kpp in defence which we have not had.

[mightytiges]

I'm not upset over getting Polak. I hope as we all do he reaches his potential in a new environment like Simmo and Paddy have done and does well at Richmond. However, to have just 2 picks in the top 50 of any draft let alone a superdraft is short-sightedness. Sorry for being negative but I just can't see that as being smart or playing the percentages. I know that it can be argued that Polak is our third pick inside the top 50 but you trade to either offload a run-of-the-mill player for a decent pick or find a bonus player as we did with Simmo and Paddy. If they hadn't come on like they have then it wouldn't have cost the club a decent pick. We are miles in front in those deals because we got them for basically nothing. In Polak's case we will only end up in front if he lives up to his first round selection potential which is an unfair expectation. I can understand us getting Polak given his potential but  by paying over the odds and trading out of the third round, they deal becomes a 50/50 scenario instead of a potential bonus one. 

Welcome to OER tigerbalm 

[Jackstar]

Polak will be good, and the younger players like JON, Hughes, Howat,White will see us very competive next year. And also a fully fit Brown and Thursfield will be a plus!

[Captain__Blood]

I'm not upset over getting Polak. I hope as we all do he reaches his potential in a new environment like Simmo and Paddy have done and does well at Richmond. However, to have just 2 picks in the top 50 of any draft let alone a superdraft is short-sightedness. Sorry for being negative but I just can't see that as being smart or playing the percentages. I know that it can be argued that Polak is our third pick inside the top 50 but you trade to either offload a run-of-the-mill player for a decent pick or find a bonus player as we did with Simmo and Paddy. If they hadn't come on like they have then it wouldn't have cost the club a decent pick. We are miles in front in those deals because we got them for basically nothing. In Polak's case we will only end up in front if he lives up to his first round selection potential which is an unfair expectation. I can understand us getting Polak given his potential but  by paying over the odds and trading out of the third round, they deal becomes a 50/50 scenario instead of a potential bonus one. 

Welcome to OER tigerbalm 

You say we 'only have five picks in the top 50' implying pre-Polak drafting the case was much different. We were only going to have 3 picks in the top 50, our 3rd pick being late in the top 50. Due to comming 9th, we were not going to have a great collections of picks even if we didn't trade Polak.

We still have a first round selection. We are not only going to say Wallace has done well if he is as good as whatever potential pick #8 is. We should focus on how much different the quailty in the draft is betwene #8 & #13 is.

[mightytiges]

You say we 'only have five picks in the top 50' implying pre-Polak drafting the case was much different. We were only going to have 3 picks in the top 50, our 3rd pick being late in the top 50. Due to comming 9th, we were not going to have a great collections of picks even if we didn't trade Polak.

We still have a first round selection. We are not only going to say Wallace has done well if he is as good as whatever potential pick #8 is. We should focus on how much different the quailty in the draft is betwene #8 & #13 is.

I'm not talking about the difference between picks 8 and 13 as that's a judgement call and I'm not knocking Polak either. I agree CB coming 9th doesn't give you fantastic picks although that's not a reason to give them up either.   

I'm talking about rebuilding our list and adding depth while just having 2 picks in the top 50. The reigning premiers have 4 picks in the top 50 yet there's almost a 100 point chasm between us and them. Even having 3 picks in the top 50 wasn't enough either prior to the Polak trade. IMO you need to gain 3 regular 22 players and hopefully at least one of those a gun from each draft to end up with a top side in the long run. Now if Polak and our first two picks provide that then I'll say I was wrong and happy to be so but sheesh we're flying by the seat of our pants if we start relying on every pick to become a 10 year 150 game player. 

[Fwoy3]

The reigning premiers also had the 'luxury' of being able to trade off a few depth players to gain those picks. We can only work with what we have got and, unfortunately, it's not much depth...at least not expendable depth...

[Captain__Blood]

You say we 'only have five picks in the top 50' implying pre-Polak drafting the case was much different. We were only going to have 3 picks in the top 50, our 3rd pick being late in the top 50. Due to comming 9th, we were not going to have a great collections of picks even if we didn't trade Polak.

We still have a first round selection. We are not only going to say Wallace has done well if he is as good as whatever potential pick #8 is. We should focus on how much different the quailty in the draft is betwene #8 & #13 is.

I'm not talking about the difference between picks 8 and 13 as that's a judgement call and I'm not knocking Polak either. I agree CB coming 9th doesn't give you fantastic picks although that's not a reason to give them up either.   

I'm talking about rebuilding our list and adding depth while just having 2 picks in the top 50. The reigning premiers have 4 picks in the top 50 yet there's almost a 100 point chasm between us and them. Even having 3 picks in the top 50 wasn't enough either prior to the Polak trade. IMO you need to gain 3 regular 22 players and hopefully at least one of those a gun from each draft to end up with a top side in the long run. Now if Polak and our first two picks provide that then I'll say I was wrong and happy to be so but sheesh we're flying by the seat of our pants if we start relying on every pick to become a 10 year 150 game player. 

 * We didn't 'give them up', we downgraded from #8 to #13 after landing a bloke who was pick #4 in the strongest draft ever and 3rd in the 2003 rising star, beating the like of Wells and Ball. Only 22, who will feel the role we are desprete for (CHB). Smacks of potential but already 7 games/5 yers in the system.

 * 'the reigning premiers'offloaded a kid in his early 20's, former top 5 draft picks and as agile/mobile 197cm+ guy your going to find, and the best ruckman in the league of only a couple years ago, who is only 27.

 * What we have done, for a side who has 9th is a much better gamble than trying to rebuild from yet another draft where we have finshed midtable instead of towards the bottom.

[LondonTiger]

Will wait and see on the deal.

Lets face it, Polak was the best KPP in the draft in 2001.  Many would be comparing him to Gumbleton.  We got him for a third rounder downgrade and a swap of first round picks.

We still have 13 and 26, and that means we should get two guns.  Over to the recruiters!

[Captain__Blood]

Will wait and see on the deal.

Lets face it, Polak was the best KPP in the draft in 2001.  Many would be comparing him to Gumbleton.  We got him for a third rounder downgrade and a swap of first round picks.

We still have 13 and 26, and that means we should get two guns.  Over to the recruiters!

Exacly.

Polak could be anything.

[bluey_21]

Polak will be good, and the younger players like JON, Hughes, Howat,White will see us very competive next year. And also a fully fit Brown and Thursfield will be a plus!

With you on this Jack 

CB get off Polak's back, initially I was a bit dubious but I'm fine with it now.

The kid can play key defence and I believe with a change of club he will become a g8 CHB